Electrical junction assembly box



Nov. 15, 1949 H. R. CLOYD ELECTRICAL JUNCTION ASSEMBLY BOX Filed Feb. 12- 1947 Patented Nov. 15,* 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to junction boxes for making connections in electric wiring and is particularly eective in providing support for four way solderless connectors and the associated wir- An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein a great number of junctions each composed of several connections may be made in minimum space.

Another object is to provide means whereby junctions of this nature may'be more easily accomplished than by present known methods.

Another object is to provide a system wherein the junctions are more securely held and better separated than those accomplished by present methods.

Another object is to provide a system of making junctions which is more productive of good workmanship than when made as in common practice.

Another object is to provide a junction box which is of smaller dimensions and lighter weight than those in general use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is further described and reference is made to the drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is an elevational assembly View oi my improved junction box showing several of the four way sclderless connectors in place and the detail parts within the junction box which support the connectors. Elevational views of the four sides of the box are duplicates.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the junction box at 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the dielectric posts used in the box.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the dielectric separators used between conductive elements.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a four way solderless connector which may be appropriately used in the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The embodiment of the invention herein shown comprises a box I0 which may preferably be made of sheet aluminum or plastic or other light material. Two posts I2 are provided with tapped holes I4 top and bottom (see Fig. 3). Posts I2 may be made of any suitable dielectric and are shown fastened in the box by fiat head screws I6 2 which extend upward through appropriately spaced holes in the bottom of the box into the tapped holes in one end of the posts.

A lid I8 which may preferably be oi the same material as the box I0 is provided for closing the upper open end. Lid I8 is fastened onto the box with screws 2l] which extend downward through correspondingly spaced holes in the lid into the tapped holes in the free ends of the posts. The four sides of the box each have a wide slot 22 extending from a point near the bottom to the top for entry of the wires, all through one slot or distributed over the four slots as may be desirable.

The dielectric posts I2 are so spaced in the box IU that they will hold a series of standard four-way solderless connectors 24 (see Fig. 5) centrally positioned in the box (see Fig. 2). Dielectric spacers 26 (see Fig. 4) have openings 28 which nt freely over the posts I2. The purpose of the spacers 26 is to mechanically and electrically separate the connectors 24. However, if more than four wires are t0 be joined, a short jumper from one four connector to another will provide junction for up to six wires. A cushion washer 3l! is of the same plan view contour as the spacer 26 but is much thicker and is made of soft sheet rubber. A hole is provided in the side of the box for a machine screw 32, the head of which is inside the box and a nurI and lock washer 35 and 36 is outside. The purpose of machine screw 32 is for grounding the sheaths of shielded wires. Drain holes 38 are provided in the four corners of both the box and the lid. Holes 40 are provided for mounting the box in the desired location.

The device may be assembled and used as follows:

The posts I2 are rst fastened in the box by means of the flat head screws I6. A dielectric spacer 26 is then pushed down over the posts followed by the cushion washer 30. Connectors 24 with the desired wires attached and spacers 26 are now placed between the posts I2 as in Fig. 2, rst a connector 24 then a spacer 26 until the desired number of connectors 24 separated by spacers 26 have been placed. Ii space then remains above the last connector placed, it may be lled by additional spacers 26 to the top of the box. 'I'he lid 38 is now fastened on by the screws 20 and the device is ready for use.

Having described an exemplification of my invention, I claim:

1. An electrical junction box arranged for use with standard connectors of that type wherein each connector comprises a central portion having a series of equally spaced tubular wire-connecting parts extending radially in the form of spokes, said junction box comprising, in combination, a box having as many vertically extending sides as there are ,spokes in the connector which is to be used, and having the top open and a slot in each vertical side extending from the top to a point near the bottom, a lid for said top side, dielectric posts within said box oppositely offset from the vertical axis of said box and extending from the bottom to the lid, one said post being positioned to lie between and be -in contact with one pair of spokes when the center of said connector is on the Vertical axis of said box, and another said post being positioned to `lie between and be in contact with a circumferentially spaced apart pair of spokes when the center of said connnector is onthe vertical axis of said box, fastening means for aixing the top and bottom ends of `said 'posts to the "lid and bottom respectively of said box, and Va series of dielectric separating washers having openings-slidable over said posts `andfli'aving lan outside diameter extending outv"withstandard four-way connectors of that type wherein V'eachfconnectorconnprises a central portion having four equally spaced tubular wire-connecting parts extending radially in the for-m of spokes, said unetion box comprising, in combination, va box having four "vertical-sides and having 4 the top open and a slot in each vertical side extending from the top to a point near the bottom, a lid for said top side, dielectric posts within said box oppositely oiset from the vertical axis of said box and in an axial plane forty-five degrees from an axial plane passing through the centers of said slots and extending Yfrom the bottom to the lid, one said post being positioned to lie between and be in 'contact with one pair of spokes when the center of said connector is on the vertical axis of said box, and another said post being positioned to lie between and be in contact with a diametrically opposite pair of spokes when the center of said connector is on the vertical axis of said box, fastening means for afxing the top and bottom ends of said posts to the lid and bottorn respectively of said box, and a series of dielectric separat'ing washers having diametrically opposite openings slidable over said posts and having an outside diameter extending outwardly beyond 'the ends of said spokes, whereby a plu- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,060 Great Britain 1908 208,432 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1923 

